Questions about my setup (ESI Juli@, Go-Vibe, Grado HF-1).

[Comfy]

Hi,

I'm probably going to buy myself a new soundcard today. The decision will be made between the E-Mu 0404 (99€) and the ESI Juli@ (134€).

I'm waiting for my Grado HF-1 to arrive, and I've recently bought a Go-Vibe amp for portable audio.

At home I could connect the 0404 or Juli@ to my 'el cheapo' Sony STR-495DE home-theater oriented receiver-amplifier.

I'm probably getting the Juli@, because for what I've read, it seems it would be a better match, synergy-wise, with the upcoming Grados.
Will the Juli@ drive the cans directly, or should I use the Go-Vibe with it? Or maybe even the Sony amp's headphone out?

I guess that external DACs are overkill with my current setup? And also, do you think I should get some quality interconnects between the Juli@ and my Sony amp?
Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[johto]

I would recommend you to use some amp.

 

[J-Pak]

Use the Go-Vibe with it, supposed to have good synergy with Grados.

 

[Thinduke]

I just got my Juli@ few days ago. I use it with my Go-vibe v3 and SR-80/hd580.
The SR-80 sound great with the setup, so does my hd580. I can't compare the sound with unamped as I can't connect them straight to the Juli@ 'cause I don't have adapters for it.
But the SR-80 sound much better trough the Go-vibe than straight from my CA Azur 640c. Go-Vibe is very nice combo with the SR-80 so I think it works good with HF-1 too.

So I suggest to use them Juli@->Go-vibe->HF-1.

 

[Comfy]

Ok, I'll go and see if there are any Juli(et)s left at the local music store...

Maybe today I'll join the ever-growing "Team Finnish Juli@-freaks..."

Kiitos vinkeistä!

 

[Comfy]

So, there were no ESI Juli@s left at the store. Backordered until mid-december. So I bought the E-MU 0404 for 99€.

And now, after fiddling for hours, I'm finally able to listen to 24bit, 96khz sound through ASIO, with no clipping.

Thanks to this guide!
-> http://ca.geocities.com/asmo@rogers.com/

My ears are pretty sore at this point, but it sounds excellent. And my receiver-amplifier sounds awesome through the optical line-out.